Alley Cats

Diagon Alley had been packed from the moment they had arrived. It had taken a considerable amount of time to move through most of the shops and Mrs. Weasley was glad that they only had a couple of more stops to make.

"Harry why don't you and Ginny go and pick up everyone's books and Hermione and I will go this way a bit."

"Umm Hermione usually likes to go get her books. She's kind of a bookworm." Ginny snickered.

"Well I guess you could go with them Hermione. I was just thinking you might like to help me pick out Ron's new robes." Mrs. Weasley said looking at the ground.

Hermione looked a bit surprised. "Ginny, you and Harry have my list and you know which books I will need. I'm going to go with Mrs. Weasley."

Harry sputtered "Hermione Granger are you telling me that you are passing up a chance to go to the book store?"

Hermione gave him one of her patented stares "I am telling you that Mrs. Weasley and I are going shopping. Now get to the book store and don't forget anything."

With that she grabbed Mrs. Weasleys hand and said "I saw some very handsome robes in a store just a few spots down."

Harry and Ginny watched them walk away and started to laugh.

"That girl has got it bad." Ginny said when she could talk again. "For my brother of all people."

"Now really Ginny, Ron isn't so bad is he?" teased Harry.

"Well maybe not but he isn't very good looking."

"I guess the women got all the looks in the Weasley family, eh?

"Harry Potter are you flirting with me?"

"If I am I must not be doing a very good job if you're not sure I am." he said grinning.

Ginny grabbed his arm tightly "Come on you, we need to get these books before your mouth puts you in a situation you're charming smile can't get you out of."

I have a charming smile?

Meanwhile Mrs. Weasley and Hermione were going through rack after rack of robes looking for something that might not clash with Ron's bright red hair.

After a few minutes Hermione held up a dark green set of robes trimmed in black. "What do you think Mrs. Weasley."

Mrs. Weasley looked at them "I think those are absolutely perfect. You have a very good eye dear."

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley, most of the other girls at school think I'm odd because I don't get into fashion magazines or wear make up."

"Well dear they aren't quite as mature as you are. Style is no substitute for substance. Now what do you say I pay for these robes and then we can grab Harry and Ginny and go for a butterbeer?

"That sounds really great."

They moved through the crowd stopping every few feet to chat with well wishers. It seemed the article in the Daily Prophet had been the talk of the town.

They got to the book store just as Harry and Ginny had gathered the last of the books from the list.

"You kids wait out here and I'll go pay. Then we'll go to the Three Broomsticks for a bit." Then Mrs. Weasley headed to the counter to pay for all of the books.

What had up to then had been a fairly pleasant day soon turned sour as they heard a familiar but not welcome voice behind them.

"So Potter brought your pet Mudblood and a charity case shopping?" insolently drawled Malfoy.

Before anyone of them could react another familiar voice called out "Malfoy that's French for....bad smell?"

Malfoy's face flushed and all of them turned to see Seamus walking up to them.

"You need to make sure you're on the right side Mudblood lover." Malfoy hissed at him.

"Have you seen the Daily Prophet today Malfoy?"

"Why should that matter to you?"

"Well you should read it before you decide who's side your own." smirked Seamus.

Harry and Ginny laughed but Hermione looked a bit concerned.

Malfoy's eyes scanned the headline growing angrier by the second "I wouldn't count on the Weasel King saving you Seamus."

"Maybe not Malfoy but I wouldn't count on you not being the second Death Eater he wastes either." Seamus retorted.

Both Hermione and Ginny gasped and looked like they were about to interrupt when Fred and George walked up behind them.

"Yeah Malfoy you thought being a bouncing ferret was bad." laughed George.

"Really I hope he never has to do it again but if he does I hope it's you Malfoy." Fred said pointedly

Malfoy went ghostly white and turned around and fled up the Ally.

"I can't believe you just said that." Hermione said shaking with anger. "Never wish that anyone would die."

Fred leaned in close to her and said softly "War is coming and soon. Either people like Malfoy are going to die or people like Ron are going to die. I think we both know which one you would choose."

"Mmm maybe but you don't have to be happy about it."

George leaned in closer "Hermione nobody is happy about it. I'm scared to death and I know a lot of other people are. We laugh Hermione because if we don't we might cry."

Fred looked up at all of them as Mrs. Weasley came back. "Mum I think you need to get everyone back home. George and I will be along in a little while."